South Korean urban mobility specialist Hyundai Mobis has developed an e-corner module which integrates steering, braking, suspension, and driving systems into a wheel. The new technology allows for 90 degree rotation parking and in-place rotation. The company claims that it is a core technology development for future urban mobility systems.

The new technology is also a key development for building purpose built vehicles (PBVs), such as those designed for cafes and hospitals, according to the company.

The concept of the e-corner module was first unveiled at the 2018 CES. Hyundai Mobis has now redefined the concept to make it practical to use on automobiles and has developed an ECU for control and has also completed the functional testing.

Once it is done with reliability verification and a feasibility study on mass production, Hyundai Mobis will begin undertaking mass production orders from global car makers for its application.

According to Hyundai, the biggest advantage of the e-corner module is that it does not require any mechanical connection between parts, which thereby allows a better use of space within vehicle. Not only does it make it easier to change the wheel base, but it also ensures more flexibility in designing the direction of doors and the size of the vehicle.

The new system allows 90-degree rotation of the wheel when needed, a development from 30 degree rotation. This allows parking and crab (sideways) driving and zero-turn, which means rotation without moving forward or backward. It is also expected to increase the agility of a vehicle running through the narrow streets of the city and improve the urban driving environment.

Hyundai Mobis plans to develop a skateboard module by the year 2023 for the implementation of real-world vehicle performance through the integrated control of four e-corner modules and then combining it with the automatic driving control technology to ultimately provide a PVB mobility solution in the year 2025.